{"id":2676,"date":"2021-05-31T03:07:46","date_gmt":"2021-05-31T03:07:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/skillset.com.au\/?p=2676"},"modified":"2026-04-01T02:06:27","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T02:06:27","slug":"what-do-i-do-next-moving-forward-after-a-job-knockback","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/skillset.com.au\/candidate-resources\/what-do-i-do-next-moving-forward-after-a-job-knockback\/","title":{"rendered":"What do I do next? Moving forward after a job knockback"},"content":{"rendered":"

It can be disappointing to find out you did not get the job you really wanted. In spite of the bad news, the best course of action is to turn a negative into a positive by learning from your experience and using it to improve your chances for the next opportunity.<\/p>\n

\n

Here are some practical steps to help you move forward:<\/p>\n

1. Ask for Feedback<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Reach out to the employer or recruiter and ask why you were not successful. You might have been close but lost out to a stronger candidate, or perhaps your interview performance could improve. Ask:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • What areas could I improve on?<\/li>\n
  • What did I do well?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Keep the conversation polite and professional. Avoid airing grievances. Use this opportunity to ask if there are any upcoming roles that match your skills.<\/p>\n

    2. Review Your Job Application Documents<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Take a fresh look at your CV and cover letter. Ask yourself:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • Is all the information up to date?<\/li>\n
    • Are there sections that need rewriting?<\/li>\n
    • Is there extra information that should be included?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      If possible, ask a friend or family member for constructive feedback. Update your documents so they are ready for the next application. Tailor your CV and cover letter to each job you apply for.<\/p>\n

      3. Assess Your Skills<\/strong><\/h2>\n

      Reflect on what you can offer an employer. Do your skills need a refresh? If so:<\/p>\n

        \n
      • Enrol in a course through TAFE NSW, universities or training providers<\/li>\n
      • Consider volunteering to gain experience and develop new skills<\/li>\n
      • Explore opportunities through Volunteering Australia or local organisations<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        4. Seek Out a Mentor<\/strong><\/h2>\n

        A mentor can provide valuable feedback and guidance. They can help you identify areas for improvement and suggest strategies for your career. If you already have a mentor, schedule a meeting to review your experience. If not, consider finding one through existing relationships, such as colleagues, community contacts or sporting groups. Avoid asking strangers. When you find a mentor, clarify your goals and how often you would like to meet.<\/p>\n

        A job knockback is not the end of the road. It is an opportunity to learn, grow and prepare for success next time. Stay positive, keep improving and keep moving forward.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        It can be disappointing to find out you did not get the job you really wanted. In spite of the bad news, the best course of action is to turn a negative into a positive by learning from your experience and using it to improve your chances for the next opportunity. Here are some practical…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":7065,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","footnotes":""},"categories":[57,58],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2676","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-candidate-resources","category-career-support"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/skillset.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2676","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/skillset.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/skillset.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skillset.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skillset.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2676"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/skillset.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2676\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7066,"href":"https:\/\/skillset.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2676\/revisions\/7066"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skillset.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/media\/7065"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/skillset.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2676"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skillset.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2676"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/skillset.com.au\/af-api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2676"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}